Day Thirty-One
Scripture: Mark 12:18-27
18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 19 ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.’
24 Jesus said to them, ‘Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? 27 He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.’
Observation:
“He is God not of the dead, but of the living.”
These days, every morning as I walk to my office from the house, even though it’s just a short distance of a few steps, I can’t help but stop, at the magnolia tree in our courtyard that is bursting forth with vibrant blooms. Despite the recent heavy rains and wind, the gorgeous pink flowers are resiliently hanging on to the tree as if they are proclaiming, “No matter what, Spring comes!”
In this beautiful season, we are invited to reflect on the meaning of resurrection. The plants that seemed dead during the winter season are now being revived by the warmth of the sunlight, bringing forth new life. I wonder if we could glimpse the meaning of resurrection from these flowers. I wonder if my resurrection would be as beautiful as that.
The Sadducees tried to ridicule the idea of resurrection by coming up with an extreme scenario; if a woman ended up marrying to seven brothers, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? To answer that, Jesus showed how ridiculous they were. Despite being the powerful religious elite in Jerusalem, the Sadducees had forgotten about the power and words of God.
Therefore, today we are called to be faithful in our daily lives, listening to the Words of God and relying on His power, rather than spending too much time speculating about what happens to the dead. He is the God of the living. He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob… the God of you and me.
Application:
How do you imagine your resurrection?
What does that mean for you that God is the God of the living, the God of (your name)?
Prayer / Reflection:
Song of Reflection: Cornerstone
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